Tie-plate



April 15, 1930.

B. M. CHENEY 1,754,500

TIE PLATE l Filed July 2, 1928 I7' .j Jp f /llo 1E il C I I l n l kif@ 5\1= & *j

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Patented Apr. 15, 1930 PATENT OFFICE BYRON M. CHENEY, OFCHICAGO,ILLINOIS TIE-PLATE Application led July 2, 1928.

My invention relates in general to means for securing railroad rails toties, and in particular to an improved tie plate adapted for use in thisconnection with the method for producing such improved tie plate.

The present standard means for securing rails to ties is by means 'of astandard type of headed spike which is driven into the ties and engagesover and contacts with the upper surface of the rail base so as tosecure the rail tightly against the ties. It is customary on a properlyequipped track also to employ a tie plate under each rail on each tie,and these aid in preventing spreading of the rails and for preventingcutting of the ties by the rail bases.

It is a well known fact that when traic moves over a track there is anupward and downward movement and some forward movement of the railswhich is commonly known as a wave y motion. This motion has a tendencyto `pull the spikes out of the ties and it is common practice torepeatedly drive them back into place with the result that the holdingpower of the `tie fibre is soon lost and the spikes become so loose thatmoisture seeps in around them and causes a rotting of the ties. Thereare many other disadvantages connected with this type of installation,and I have overcome many of these objections by introducing a novelspike on which a atent, Number 1,604,-

806 was granted me on ctober 26, 1926. The

use of my spike with a standard equipment has resulted in a greatimprovement in track installation, but I now propose modification ofother portions of the equipment particular-- ly the tie-plates to carryout to a still greater satisfaction `the improvement in railroad I amaware that any such improvements should he made preferably withoutincreasing the ultimate cost of an installation.

Accordingly the principal object of my invention is the provision of animproved railroad track installation.

Another object is the provision of a railroad track which will require aminimum of upkeep.

i Another object is the provision of a tie Serial No. 289,649.

plate adapted to correct the difficulties outlined above, and with whicha standard type of spike may be employed. Y

Another object is the provision of an improved method for producing sucha tie plate.y

Another object is the provision ot improved means for positively spacingthe spike head from the top surface of the rail base.

Another object is the provision of a tie" plate adapted to be employedin combina tion with a standard spike to permit normal wave motionwithout straining the relative positions of rail spikes, tie plates, orties.

Other objects and features of' the invention will be `apparent from aconsideration of the detailed description taken with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein- F ig. l is a fragmentary plan view of a railroad railinstallation showing my improved tie plate in position;

Fig. 2 is an irregular sectional view taken along line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a modification Fig. 4 is stillanother modification, and

Fig. 5 shows another way of forming a spacing lug- While I have providedan improved method for manufacturing a tie plate it is believed that thesteps of the method and the purpose thereof will be more manifest from apreliminary understanding of the article itself and the manner in whichit is employed in actual use with other equipment.

Referring first in a general way to the use Vof the tie plate of myinvention it 1s understood that the usual ties A are employed withsuitable rails B and spikes C. Between the rail and ties the tie plate Dis placed and it is particularly with respect to this member that thepresent invention is directed.

This tie plate is of rectangular shape and in all usual respects exceptas will be pointed out, may resemble any of the present type of tieplates, so that the shape and general character thereof are simplyillustrative.

The tie plate to which my invention is now particularly directed may beadapted for use with standard or special equipment, and may still bemade to accomplish the principal object set out in the present inventionincluding the allowance of sufiicient space between the spike head andrail base to allow normal wave motion. The standard spikes employed mayvary somewhat, as it is well known that in various parts of the country,the exact dimensions of the head, sha-nk, etc., may be found to be alittle different, and still be the spike considered for all practicalpurposes as a standard spike. For example some spikes are provided withVa heel extending a considerable distance from the shank somewhat asshown in Figs. l and 2; while other spikes have practically no heel,being of the general shape shown in Fig. 4. I-Iere one of these typesmay be considered as a standard spike,` but the specific manner in whichthey will be used with my invention will vary as will be pointed out asthe description proceeds.

In the tie plate of my invention I provide a number of lugs adapted tolie either up against or adjacent the outside edge of the rail base.`These lugs are formed preferably from the material of the tie plate andare in general adapted to accomplish two purposes, namely to control thespacing of the rails with respect to each other, and to space the head`of the spikes away from the upper surface of the rail base by limitingthe degree of insertion of the spikes into the ties.

Considering the, main form of Figs. I and 2 I provide lugs 10-10 andother lugs 1l-ll. All of these lugs are formed up from the material ofthe tie plate and are so arranged that in the forming process aperturesare made through the tie plate. The apertures adjacent the lugs 10 arenot necessarily applied to any use, but the lugs themselves serve thepurpose of preventing any possible sidewise movement of the rails withrespect to the tie plates. In other words they prevent spreading of therails and for this reason may be placed only on the outside of the tieplate but I prefer the arrangement shown wherein the rail is protectedfrom shifting in eitherdirection, and the tie plate is adapted touniversal application without regard to the direction in which it isshifted. The apertures adjacent the lugs 11, however.y are formed largeenough to receive the shanks of the spike C and the lug is so formed asto engag the heel of the type of standard spike shown to, prevent thebottom of the spike head fromengaging against the upper surface of therail base. I form this lug l1 sov that with standard spikes the spacebetween the spike head and upper surface of the rail base will be about133th in. but this may be varied to. suit different types of rails anddiffe-rent operating conditions, the thing to be borne in mind beingthat this clearance should be enough simply to allow normal wave motionand While. 'rth in. is` about right for `mest equipment. which is newused in main lines, it may be found advisable as stated to employ agreater clearance.

The specific structure shown in Figs. l and 2 is illustrative of what Inow consider the best form of the invention, but the principles sucientlength to support the head of the spike a sufficient distance away fromthe upper surface of the rail base and for this reason a lug 11 isprovided of lesser' height than the lugs l1 shown in the main ligures.In other words the heel stop l2 and lug ll together will equal theheight of the stop provided on my patented spike where the sameclearance is to be provided to allow normal wave motion.

These spikes shown in Fig. 3 are in certain respects standard althoughthey are not in near as wide use as the spike shown in the otherembodiments. A stop similar to 12 is provided in these spikes to allowfor the thickness of the rail base, so that when the stop is down flushagainst the tie plate, the spike head will engage against the top` ofthe rail base. If spikes of this character are used it appears clearthat the upstanding lug ll would extend above the tie plate a distanceequal to the wave motion clearance which I am seeking to provide.

While I prefer to employ two sets of lugs on the tie plate, one set forspacing the rail and the other set for spacing the spikes, I A

may utilize a single set of lugs to accomplish both functions. Forexample as shown in Fig. 4 a lug 10, may be formed to lie against theedge of the rail base as illustrated, and

the adjacent aperture formed of sufficient I 1 size to receive a spikeshank for engaging over the rail base. Thisv same lug` 10 therefore alsoserves as a stop to space the head of the spike away from the rail basein the same way that is accomplished by the lugs 11. In other words thelug 10 is in effect a dual purpose lug and accomplishes a double spacingaction so that only half as many of these lugs are necessary as whenemploying the syle previously described.

The form of Fig. 4 is of particular utility when spikes of the charactershown are used. This is a strictly standard spike, there being probablymore of this kind of spikes in use than any other with the possibleexception of the spike shown in Fig. 2. The spike of Fig. 4, however,appears to me to be gaining in popularity amongrailroadmen as it canusually be made somewhat more economically than the spike shown in themain embodiment.

With the arrangement of Fig. l I may also employ another species ofspikes which has been in somewhat extensive use, this spike having adepending stop under part of the head in a position so that it wouldengage against the top of the extension or lug 10. If this species ofspike were used it would of course be possible to make the extension onthe tie plate somewhat lower, care being taken however to maintain thatit was of sufiicient height to support the edge of the rail base` withpositive security.

Instead of upturning the lug at right angles to the tie plate as shownin Figs. 1 to t, these lugs may be formed in a number of different waysto secure the same result, it being necessary simply to produce the lugsfrom the material of the tie plate by a forming process. It is preferredof course to utilize a process which can be carried out by a simplestamping operation but the invention is not limited necessarily to anyparticular method of producing the tie plate. One form which the lug maytake is shown in Fig. 5 wherein an upstanding portion 110 is formed sothat sub stantially no apertures result, and the desired height,strength, and other features of the formed section of metal areobtained. While I prefer when using this form to limit it to use as anantispreading device, I may also employ it to engage the spike headsafter the` fashion of the lug 11.

In forming my improved tie plate the body portion thereof is firstproduced and this is done in any of the usual ways, preferably byrolling strips of suitable cross section and then cutting plate bodiesof the proper size from the material of the strips. I next form thespike holes and the holes adjacent the lugs 10 where this form of lug isused, and at the same time produce the lugs 10 and 11 from the materialof the tie plate. This method is carried out for any of the types oflugs or stops shown. In forming up these holes or stops it may benecessary to resort to a two-step method, this depending upon theparticular machine shop practice in connection with the operation ofpunch presses, but from the standpoint of production the step of formingup the stops and producing the spike holes is a single operation as itentails only a single handling of the article.

While I have described many features of the device of my invention anddescribed the method of producing the same, these features and themethod are illustrative and the in- Y vention is limited only by thescope of the ing projections on said plate body for engaging under thespike head.

2. The method of manufacturing a tie plate which comprises producing astandard imperforate tie plate body, punching holes in the tie platebody for receiving track spikes, and forming of the material taken from'the holes upturned projections adapted for spacing the rails and forlimiting the degree of insertion of the track spikes into the ties.

3. In a tie plate a tie plate body for insertion between a rail and atie, with spike receiving apertures therein, and stops formed from thematerial taken from the aperture to limit the insertion of the spikesand keep the head clear of the rail to allow wave motion of said rail.

4. In a tie plate a tie plate body for insertion between a rail and atie with spike receiving apertures, and stops comprising secv.

tions of the tie plate body turned upwardly from the adjacent aperturesand adapted for engaging under the spike head to keep said spike headclear of the rail to allow wave motion of said rail.

5. In a tie plate a tie plate body for insertion under a rail base andabove a tie, said tie plate body having spike receiving apertures alongthe edge of the rail base with stops formed of the material taken fromthe spike apertures and adapted for engaging under the heel of the spikehead for preventing the spike from engaging against the upper surface ofthe rail base, and separate spacing lugs formed of the material of thetie plate body and placed so as to engage along the outside edge of therail base for spacing said rail.

6. The combination with a tie plate adapted for insertion under a railand having proj ections thereon, of a spike having a head and meansforming a part of the head for engaging said projection to maintain thespike head away from the top of the rail base.

7. rIhe combination with a tie plate adapted for insertion under a railand having projections for preventing spreading of the rails, of a spikehaving a head, and with means forming a part of the head for engag-

